Childrens Party Ideas
Let's face it, to most people the task of organising a children's party is a daunting one. No matter how brave you
feel before the event, the real test comes on the day itself as you prepare to receive into your home a horde of
youngsters, most of whom you have never met before. Furthermore the day poses many questions such as: Will
there be enough food, games and prizes? How will we cope with the naughty ones, cry babies, children who will
not leave their parents? Should we have balloons, blowers, hats, party bags, etc, etc? The list is seemingly
endless.
Faced with all these decisions it is hardly surprising that many people take a certain amount of pot-luck with their
preparations, reasoning that after all "they're only kids" and "it is only for a couple of hours". In reality both of
these assumptions are a recipe for disaster. To imagine that "they're only kids", is to suppose that keeping them
entertained on the day will be a simple affair and that they will delight in every game or activity which you have
arranged for them. Anyone who has ever been present at, or indeed organised their own children's party, will
know that this is sadly not the case and invariably the little darlings, bored or disinterested with the programme of
events, will resort to making their own "entertainment"!
Similarly "a couple of hours" can be made to seem like a lifetime when, with half of the party still to go, you
suddenly realise that you have played all the games, tea was over much faster than expected and you have no
idea how you are going to prevent the impending destruction of all you hold dear as the guests perform their own
unique interpretation of "The Charge of the Light Brigade". Perhaps you feel that all of this is par for the course
or that a children's party without all hell being let loose just would not feel right. After all you may reason that
even if the assembled throng are running riot, at least they are enjoying themselves.
So, please allow us to guide you through some good party organising tips which we've found usefull, alongside
some party games.
1) The optimum time for a successful children's party is TWO HOURS. Yes just two, not three or two and a half
but TWO HOURS. Trying to impress everyone by having a longer party, may look good on the invitations. On the
day however as you frantically try to come up with another twenty seven games to fill that final hour, (while the
children cheerfully show off their expertise in the field of demolition) you will realise, all too late, the hidden truth
in that wise old saying, "size isn't everything". Children are far more impressed with the content of a party than the
duration of it so pick out your TWO HOURS and write them clearly on the invitation. A word of caution here, don't
be tempted to add half an hour or even fifteen minutes either side for taking coats off or putting coats on etc. In
practise this is pure fantasy and most of the guests will be ready for action within a couple of minutes of arriving.
Similarly it will take far less time than you imagine for coats, party bags and parents to be assigned to the
relevant individuals at the end of the proceedings.
2) Before the invitations are sent out do remember to make a separate note of all the details, i.e. names of the
guests, date of the party, time of the party and keep it in a safe place for reference. This done you can sit back,
put your feet up, safe in the knowledge that you have single-handedly ,(well almost) put the wheels in motion for
your darling son or daughter's first, problem free party.
3) Children do not enjoy playing: 1) Interminable amounts of games one after the other 2) Badly organised
games 3) Games where they are sitting around doing nothing 4) Games where they are caught out early on and
have to sit watching the others enjoying themselves. It ain't what you play it's the way that you play it. Firstly let's
deal with the "I don't want to play this" brigade. A party with all the children joining in is a wonderful sight but we
all know that it only takes one child to voice his/her unwillingness to play and, like magic, half of the others
suddenly decide the same thing. The quick answer to this is DON'T LET THEM. This may seem to be over
simplifying things but a firm "I'm sorry but as you were invited to the party you have to play" can work wonders.
This answer in one fell swoop (whatever that means), lets all the children know that there is no alternative but to
join in. The little dears will have been to so many parties where their pleas of not wanting to play have gone
unchallenged, that this response quite literally surprises them into towing the line. What you are really doing here
is making your job much easier. If all the children are playing the game then you can give them your full
attention, without having to keep an eye on the likes of "Kid Super Glue". Similarly, avoid phrases like "who wants
to play....?" or "shall we play....?" or even "would you like to play....?" as all of these leave the children with the
option of saying "NO". Referring to games as "competitions" makes them sound more exciting and not
mentioning the game by name can also help. Some children will have decided, based on past experience, that
they do not like a particular game e.g. Pass the Parcel. On hearing the question "Who would like to play the next
game? It's pass the Parcel", they will immediately call out, "I don't like Pass the Parcel". Wonder of wonders, half
a dozen other little souls will suddenly chorus the exact same sentiments. Replace the above with "Now here's a
competition where you can win a prize just by sitting on the floor". Followed by, "the only thing is you all have to
be sitting in a circle by the time I count up to five". Notice there are no questions, no options, no mention of the
game but you have the children all sitting in a circle ready and eager to win a prize. Aren't you the clever one? If
all of the above sounds a little devious it's meant to be. Children, innocent as they are, are very adept at getting
their own way using, an instinctive form of psychology which adults find very hard to resist. In order to "survive" a
children's party therefore, it is important to counter this with your own superior (hopefully) psychology.
5) The "catching out" games. The inherent problem with this type of game e.g. Musical Bumps, is that as the
game goes on you have an increasing number of children sitting out with nothing to do. It is when children have
nothing to do that they are at their most unpredictable. The problem can be dealt with in two ways. The first way
is to allow the ones who are out, to assist with the judging. By explaining that the ones who sit the best will be
asked to say who they think is the next one out, you ensure that their interest is held for the duration of the game.
The second and more preferable way is not to catch anyone out. "What?" I hear you say (I'm sure it was you this
time) "has this man gone completely mad? How can you play Musical Bumps without catching anyone out?"
Simply by giving a prize, every time the music stops, to the child who sits down first. Furthermore the promise of a
prize at the end of the game to the person who has been jumping the highest, ensures that the little darlings will
give of their best throughout. Think about it, no more tears at being the first one out, complete control over who
wins (a great boon if you are determined to distribute the prizes evenly), more prizes to be won and, all
importantly, control over the length of the game (you can finish whenever you like).
6) PRIZES. It is a common misconception that every child at the party must win a prize. It is assumed that those
who do not will dissolve into floods of tears and be desperately unhappy. To avoid this scenario parents will go to
great lengths (in other words cheat) to ensure that no one misses out. In reality it is down to the way in which you
handle the prize giving that determines the number of prizes you will need. The type of prize given is up to the
individual but remember that children are just as happy to win a lollipop as something costing ten times as
much. It is the idea of winning a prize that appeals to the children, not what the prize is. For this reason cries of "I
haven't won anything yet" are invariably heard at parties but this is easily dealt with. Explain to the concerned
ones that everyone will have something to take home by the end of the party. This statement is true as they will
all be receiving a party bag. Remember it is the idea that they might be left out that worries the little dears most.
To this end do not give the prizes out as they are won. Show the "winnings" to the lucky person and say that it will
be put into their party bag to take home at the end of the party. Once again this simple action conceals a
number of advantages over the tradditional idea of giving out the prizes straight away. 1) If the prize is of the
edible variety it will not be immediately eaten (to the envy of the other guests), spoiling a little appetite for tea. 2)
If it is a toy or similar it will not be immediately played with, (once again to the envy of the others who will want
to try it out too) possibly leading to it being lost or broken before the end of the party. 3) At the end of the party, as
everyone will receive a party bag anyway, the ones with the extra prizes in will go largely unnoticed by any
children who didn't win. As the bags are given to each child as they leave, there is no opportunity to compare
booty. Each guest will be happy with their own bag of delights, regardless of the contents.
7) Balloons and decorations are an essential part of any children's party, right? Well to be honest it's a matter of
opinion. How often have you heard the assembled tots remarking upon the quality of the party decor? My own
feeling is that children, while undoubtedly being fascinated by colourful balloons, streamers, banners, etc, are
not in anyway disappointed at the lack of them. In fact it is adults who derive the most pleasure out of a well
festooned party room and adults who will provide the requisite "ooohs and aaahs" of appreciation for your efforts.
Once again as we attempt to hit the nail firmly on the head there will inevitably be a few sore thumbs (ouch!). If
you feel that it is ludicrous to suggest that decorations are not a necessity, then by all means go ahead and
create a party room par excellence. You may however agree that, apart from the financial outlay, the time and
effort involved in decorating the room could be far better utilised putting the final touches on more important
projects such as your games programme. A well organised party will always be a success, without even a single
balloon in evidence. I suspect that most people will go for the happy balance. A suitable number of balloons, i.e.
one for each child plus a few extras, (to allow for bursting) is a simple and effective way to add some colour to
the proceedings. It is not a good idea to have just a token few balloons as some of the children will undoubtedly
ask to take one home. This will lead to other children feeling left out when they realise that there are not enough
to go round (much wailing and nashing of teeth follows). The important thing here is what you do with the
balloons once you have blown them up. Always but always hang the balloons up. Do not be tempted to scatter
them around the room for that nonchalant but festive look. Still worse never issue each child with a balloon as
they arrive. Children are fascinated by balloons. Second only to their desire to plunder the contents of the
presents, children love to play with balloons. So much so that if the balloons are easily accessible you can forget
any notions of getting them interested in that game of "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" or "Musical Statues" which
you have painstakingly prepared for their delight. Instead the imaginative little cherubs will prefer their own
creations such as "Hit all and sundry as hard as you can with a balloon" or "How many times can you jump on a
balloon before it bursts". These and other such gems of childhood inspiration can quickly lead to disaster, not
only for the balloons but also for your chances of regaining control over the proceedings. Similarly it is no good
hanging balloons up where the children can reach them. Seeing if you can jump high enough to grab a balloon
rates high on the list of joyous pursuits for the average youngster. This frequently leads to the entire bunch being
dragged to the floor for the greater delight of the partygoers. The golden rule is, tie a separate piece of string
around each balloon (it is worth investing in a ball of twine for this as cotton gets easily tangled). Collect them all
up and use a further piece of string to tie all the strings together (I hope that makes sense). Using this same piece
of string hang the balloons up and don't forget to "hang 'em high" as they say in the movies. One large bunch
looks more impressive than several smaller ones and is also easier to retrieve for distribution at the end of the
party. If you do decide to go for streamers, banners, etc the same rules about hanging up apply. This way you
can ensure that your decorative skills will not have been in vain and you will have taken yet another step towards
gaining the undivided attention of your young audience.
8) Tea Time. Having received the little dears into your well prepared party, removed all the parents and treated
the expectant hoard to a games programme par excellence, things are looking pretty good. Indeed all that
remains now is to announce "Tea Time" and the exhausted throng will be only too pleased to gather at the table
for a well earned feast of delights. Being ravenously hungry and thirsty they are bound to sit for at least 30-45
minutes, doing justice to your lavish spread. After tea there should be just enough time for the organised present
opening and then "Yippee" it's home time. If all this sounds too good to be true, rest assured it is, or at least it was
until now. Tea time can be the making or breaking of any party. On arriving at a suitable point in the proceedings
(usually 45-50 minutes into the party) the first job is to transfer the angelic throng to the Tea Table. There are
several wrong ways of doing this, for example: "I think we should eat now". "Let's eat". "Who's going to be first at
the table"? "Come and get it". All of the above translate as one word in a child's mind: "CHARGE!!!" Even adding
phrases like "now don't all rush at once" or "no running" will have little effect as once again the children's minds
switch into override. Seeing who can be first at the tea table is another of those little unofficial games that
children love to play. The only way to prevent this and the potential injury to life, limb and carefully laid out food
display, is to change the rules of the game in your favour. On arriving at the end of the last event before tea, tell
the children that you are now going to look to see who can sit the best (arms folded, backs up straight, etc). Say
that the ones who are sitting the best will be able to go to the tea table first and proceed to choose them one at a
time. It's quite a good idea to start with the Birthday Child to make sure that they get their rightful place at the
table. One of your adult helpers should be waiting to ensure that the little sweethearts are seated properly and, if
you allow a suitable time lapse between the selection of each child, the miracle of an orderly sit down will
occur. Many people feel that this is also a good time to ask if anyone needs the toilet. In my experience it is
better to ask this after tea as the children will by then have had plenty to drink and are more likely to need the
loo. Of course any child caught short before or during tea will usually let you know soon enough. On the subject
of the smallest room, any teacher will tell you of the astounding effect of a child asking to "be excused". For
some peculiar reason one child's need to "go" immediately awakens the desire in any number of their
classmates. Of course the most likely reason for this is the opportunity to escape on their own for a while, rather
than any urgent need to answer natures call. This phenomenon applies equally well to Birthday Parties and it is
as well to be prepared. In the event of the cry to "leave the room" going up during your games session, call upon
a helper to usher the desperate party in the right direction. If this is done quickly and with a minimum of fuss you
may avoid the copycats altogether. As a general rule any simultaneous requests to follow suit should be met with
a firm "you can go when **** gets back". More often than not you will find that upon ****'s return the others will
have forgotten their need to go. Of course if you have two helpers and two loos you could let two go at the same
time but that is up to you. Asking if anyone needs the toilet after tea will of course result in many of the guests
wanting to go at the same time and here again you can utilise your helper/s to organise an orderly queue while
you stay with the other children. When everyone has returned you can carry on in the knowledge that there is
little likelihood of anyone feeling "the need" for the rest of the party.
9) The tea table. Depending on the space you have available you may of course have to plan the food
arrangements a little differently. While seating children round a table to eat is undoubtedly the most ideal way,
there are a number of alternatives: a) Standing round the table should be avoided if possible as the children will
tire of standing very quickly. As they are already on their feet the desire to leave the table and run around is also
very strong. This often leads to dropped food, spilt drinks etc and generally tea will be over quite quickly with little
justice done to your culinary efforts. b) A buffet style tea with the children collecting their food and drinks at the
table and going off to sit randomly around the room. From a mess point of view this is probably the worst idea of
all. Attempting to safely transport a plateful of food in one hand and a drink in the other to a suitable sitting down
point is difficult enough for adults. Children get into all sorts of problems with this ranging from depositing the
contents of their plate onto someone's head, to kicking over numerous cups of sticky, carpet staining juice as they
make their precarious journey across the room. Avoid this one at all costs and save yourself a lot of unnecessary
hassle. c) Probably the best alternative to sitting everyone round the table is to lay some large paper table-cloths
on the floor and sit them round those. You can then lay your food out properly, the children will be seated
comfortably on the floor (children have no problem with this), and teatime can be conducted in much the same
way as normal. Cups of drink are still more prone to being knocked over when they are on the floor so try using the
little boxes of juice that come with their own straw.
10) Party Blowers. The single biggest mistake that you can make at tea time is to give everyone a blower. True,
they look festive enough when they are lying there at the side of the plates. Indeed it is hard to imagine that such
an innocent device can be the cause of so much mayhem. The oddity is that while most people are aware of the
phenomenal noise that children can create with these things, blowers are still seen as part of the tea time
experience. Children, while only too happy to give their own rendition of a trumpet voluntary, should a blower be
present on the table, will not question the absence of them. Do not therefore feel obliged to have blowers, they
are not an essential part of the party table and will only make your job of keeping control much harder.
Remember once a child has a blower they will continue to blow it at every possible opportunity, for the rest of the
party. Now before I run into trouble with the party blower manufacturing industry, I would like to point out that I
am not ruling out the purchase of blowers altogether. By all means get blowers for the party but put them in the
party bags. This admittedly sneaky manoeuvre ensures that the loveable horde will still get the chance to show
off their musical talents, but it will be their own mummies and daddies who will share this delightful experience.
11) Party hats are a different kettle of fish. While they do not have the obvious drawbacks of the blowers, there are
still many reasons why they are not such a good idea. Firstly once again, believe it or not, children are very
indifferent about party hats. Parents on the other hand like to see their little dears dressed up and so they inflict
these weird and wonderful creations upon them. Many children do not like wearing party hats at all. This is
largely due to the elastic under the chin being somewhat uncomfortable and the extreme difficulty of trying to
keep the infernal thing perched on their head. From your point of view as the organiser the most common
complaint will be "my elastic's broken" and once again you will find yourself placed under unnecessary pressure,
trying to organise tea and run a repair shop at the same time. Of course not everyone gives hats out at tea time
preferring to do this at the start of the party. If anything this is a worse time to give them out than at the tea table.
At the start when you are trying to get their attention and begin your games programme you can well do without
the extra distraction of party hats. Additionally the timid ones will often become quite distressed when asked to
put a hat on, seeing this as some sort of indication that they actually want to be at the party. Once again (party
hat manufacturers take note) if you want the children to have party hats, give them to the homeward bound
sweethearts at the end. This way it is entirely up to them whether they put them on or not and you will not have to
worry about, "my elastic's broken".
12) Party Poppers and Crackers. Under strict supervision it cannot be denied that party poppers are both exciting
and pretty. They are however explosive devices and children, being blissfully unaware of the potential danger,
will often be seen pointing them directly into the faces of their friends. Some children are also averse to loud
bangs and will be quite upset by the noise, so use them at your own peril. Crackers would appear to be the least
perilous addition to the party table. They are however quite difficult for little hands to pull properly and your
assistance will often be required. Remember also that the contents of these devices are frequently paper hats,
small toys and jokes. The hats are not a particular problem as, having no elastic, the worse that can happen is
that they tear and become unwearable. The small plastic toys are similarly innocent (apart from any whistles)
although it would be wise to ensure that they are not accidentally swallowed along with the food. As far as the
printed jokes are concerned these tend to be largely ignored. However if you are blessed with one of the children
wishing to show off his or her reading skills by reciting the humorous? quip , you may be bombarded with requests
from the less talented ones for you to read their jokes out too. All of this seems fairly mild stuff but you will see
that once again by adding the crackers to the table you are making more work for yourself which detracts from the
all important job of keeping an eye on the dears while they tuck-in to your wonderful spread. Crackers once again
make very nice hand-outs at home time!
13) The Party Feast. Party Food Boxes are a good idea but can throw up unforseen problems. Basically all the
children receive exactly the same amount of eats in a compact and gaily decorated box which only needs the
addition of a carton of drink to complete the package. All the preparation is done prior to the party and on
conclusion of the revelry of the box, which also serves as a plate, can be swiftly cleared up with it's contents and
disposed of. Indeed if it is still serviceable, the box can be emptied and instantly recycled as a "going home bag"
substitute. Okay, so food boxes are an instant recipe for tea being over in ten to fifteen minutes. The amount of
food that they will hold is quite small and by the time you have popped in a bag of crisps and a chocolate biscuit
or two you will be wondering how the rest of your delicious creations are going to fit in. Often the solution to this
problem is to squash everything down resulting in looks of disdain on the faces of the children as they try to
separate sausages from cakes and cheese cubes from jam sandwiches. As the food is not really displayed at it's
best the children will often eat less of it and due to the lack of quantity it will not be long before you hear the
cries of "Can I get down now" or "I don't want anymore". Secondly as all the children are given the same food
there will inevitably be things in the box that some of them do not like. Kiddlywinks are often quite upset by this
as they feel, until reassured otherwise, that they are expected to eat everything they are given. Even if you
explain beforehand that they are not obliged to consume the entire contents of the box, it will not be long before
the first cry of "I don't like........" goes up, followed by similar announcements from all and sundry. Undoubtedly
there are some advantages to using boxes but if you are looking for that legendary 30-45 minute tea break then
they are not the way to go.
14) It is not a good idea to put all the food out at the same time. Instead a four stage approach is the best plan.
At the start only have savouries on the table. This avoids the problem of the little dears skipping straight to the
sweetmeats. Sausages, crisps etc are very popular but the same cannot be said of sandwiches so keep these to a
minimum or dispense with them altogether. It is also a good idea to avoid the use of cocktail sticks as the
children seem to have a fascination with them and often thrust large quantities of these sharp objects into their
pockets with obvious consequences. As a safer substitute for cocktail sticks try using thin plastic drinking straws cut
to size or better still allow the children to use their favourite eating method..............their fingers! Once a suitable
time has passed, and remember there is no need to rush here as everyone will want to stay at the table in
anticipation of the delights to follow, clear the decks and bring on the cakes, biscuits, etc. Once again allow
everyone plenty of time to partake before once again clearing away and introducing the jelly and ice cream.
Finally it's time to bring on the birthday cake with the usual enchanting choral refrain. Given the option, very few
children will want a piece of cake at this time, preferring instead to take it home in their bag or box. Once again
rather than asking who would like a piece, explain to the children that they can all have a small piece now to see
how delicious it is. This will have the double effect of extending tea time and saving you a lot of work wrapping
up individual portions for later.
15) The Birthday Cake. At the risk of more unpopularity with the manufacturers I am compelled to say beware the
re-lighting candles. Yes of course they can be great fun but I have personally seen children reduced to tears with
the frustration of not being able to blow them out. The other guests of course feel compelled to help and the
scenario of the soaking wet cake is almost always the result. Often the sodden cake has to be rescued from the
eager horde and rushed to the kitchen where the candles can be removed and safely extinguished. Keep a
special eye on how close the children get to the cake at this time as it is all too easy for hair to become singed in
the candle flames. Far better then to use regular candles which can be easily blown out to the usual applause
and cheers. Traditionally children are asked to congregate around the birthday cake for the singing of "Happy
Birthday To You" but if they are already seated at the table, ask them to remain where they are as they will get a
better view of the proceedings. This will help to alleviate the aforementioned danger of getting too close to the
candles. Following the cutting and eating of the cake, tea time is over and unless something is drastically wrong
your target of 30-45 minutes should have been easily achieved. Your table should be looking in pretty good
shape and because of the orderly way in which you have organised things, spills and other accidents should have
been kept to a minimum. In particular any incidents of food throwing should be stopped immediately before mass
imitation sets in and it becomes much harder to restore order.
Let's face it, to most people the task of organising a children's party is a daunting one. No matter how brave you
feel before the event, the real test comes on the day itself as you prepare to receive into your home a horde of
youngsters, most of whom you have never met before. Furthermore the day poses many questions such as: Will
there be enough food, games and prizes? How will we cope with the naughty ones, cry babies, children who will
not leave their parents? Should we have balloons, blowers, hats, party bags, etc, etc? The list is seemingly
endless.
Faced with all these decisions it is hardly surprising that many people take a certain amount of pot-luck with their
preparations, reasoning that after all "they're only kids" and "it is only for a couple of hours". In reality both of
these assumptions are a recipe for disaster. To imagine that "they're only kids", is to suppose that keeping them
entertained on the day will be a simple affair and that they will delight in every game or activity which you have
arranged for them. Anyone who has ever been present at, or indeed organised their own children's party, will
know that this is sadly not the case and invariably the little darlings, bored or disinterested with the programme of
events, will resort to making their own "entertainment"!
Similarly "a couple of hours" can be made to seem like a lifetime when, with half of the party still to go, you
suddenly realise that you have played all the games, tea was over much faster than expected and you have no
idea how you are going to prevent the impending destruction of all you hold dear as the guests perform their own
unique interpretation of "The Charge of the Light Brigade". Perhaps you feel that all of this is par for the course
or that a children's party without all hell being let loose just would not feel right. After all you may reason that
even if the assembled throng are running riot, at least they are enjoying themselves.
So, please allow us to guide you through some good party organising tips which we've found usefull, alongside
some party games.
1) The optimum time for a successful children's party is TWO HOURS. Yes just two, not three or two and a half
but TWO HOURS. Trying to impress everyone by having a longer party, may look good on the invitations. On the
day however as you frantically try to come up with another twenty seven games to fill that final hour, (while the
children cheerfully show off their expertise in the field of demolition) you will realise, all too late, the hidden truth
in that wise old saying, "size isn't everything". Children are far more impressed with the content of a party than the
duration of it so pick out your TWO HOURS and write them clearly on the invitation. A word of caution here, don't
be tempted to add half an hour or even fifteen minutes either side for taking coats off or putting coats on etc. In
practise this is pure fantasy and most of the guests will be ready for action within a couple of minutes of arriving.
Similarly it will take far less time than you imagine for coats, party bags and parents to be assigned to the
relevant individuals at the end of the proceedings.
2) Before the invitations are sent out do remember to make a separate note of all the details, i.e. names of the
guests, date of the party, time of the party and keep it in a safe place for reference. This done you can sit back,
put your feet up, safe in the knowledge that you have single-handedly ,(well almost) put the wheels in motion for
your darling son or daughter's first, problem free party.
3) Children do not enjoy playing: 1) Interminable amounts of games one after the other 2) Badly organised
games 3) Games where they are sitting around doing nothing 4) Games where they are caught out early on and
have to sit watching the others enjoying themselves. It ain't what you play it's the way that you play it. Firstly let's
deal with the "I don't want to play this" brigade. A party with all the children joining in is a wonderful sight but we
all know that it only takes one child to voice his/her unwillingness to play and, like magic, half of the others
suddenly decide the same thing. The quick answer to this is DON'T LET THEM. This may seem to be over
simplifying things but a firm "I'm sorry but as you were invited to the party you have to play" can work wonders.
This answer in one fell swoop (whatever that means), lets all the children know that there is no alternative but to
join in. The little dears will have been to so many parties where their pleas of not wanting to play have gone
unchallenged, that this response quite literally surprises them into towing the line. What you are really doing here
is making your job much easier. If all the children are playing the game then you can give them your full
attention, without having to keep an eye on the likes of "Kid Super Glue". Similarly, avoid phrases like "who wants
to play....?" or "shall we play....?" or even "would you like to play....?" as all of these leave the children with the
option of saying "NO". Referring to games as "competitions" makes them sound more exciting and not
mentioning the game by name can also help. Some children will have decided, based on past experience, that
they do not like a particular game e.g. Pass the Parcel. On hearing the question "Who would like to play the next
game? It's pass the Parcel", they will immediately call out, "I don't like Pass the Parcel". Wonder of wonders, half
a dozen other little souls will suddenly chorus the exact same sentiments. Replace the above with "Now here's a
competition where you can win a prize just by sitting on the floor". Followed by, "the only thing is you all have to
be sitting in a circle by the time I count up to five". Notice there are no questions, no options, no mention of the
game but you have the children all sitting in a circle ready and eager to win a prize. Aren't you the clever one? If
all of the above sounds a little devious it's meant to be. Children, innocent as they are, are very adept at getting
their own way using, an instinctive form of psychology which adults find very hard to resist. In order to "survive" a
children's party therefore, it is important to counter this with your own superior (hopefully) psychology.
5) The "catching out" games. The inherent problem with this type of game e.g. Musical Bumps, is that as the
game goes on you have an increasing number of children sitting out with nothing to do. It is when children have
nothing to do that they are at their most unpredictable. The problem can be dealt with in two ways. The first way
is to allow the ones who are out, to assist with the judging. By explaining that the ones who sit the best will be
asked to say who they think is the next one out, you ensure that their interest is held for the duration of the game.
The second and more preferable way is not to catch anyone out. "What?" I hear you say (I'm sure it was you this
time) "has this man gone completely mad? How can you play Musical Bumps without catching anyone out?"
Simply by giving a prize, every time the music stops, to the child who sits down first. Furthermore the promise of a
prize at the end of the game to the person who has been jumping the highest, ensures that the little darlings will
give of their best throughout. Think about it, no more tears at being the first one out, complete control over who
wins (a great boon if you are determined to distribute the prizes evenly), more prizes to be won and, all
importantly, control over the length of the game (you can finish whenever you like).
6) PRIZES. It is a common misconception that every child at the party must win a prize. It is assumed that those
who do not will dissolve into floods of tears and be desperately unhappy. To avoid this scenario parents will go to
great lengths (in other words cheat) to ensure that no one misses out. In reality it is down to the way in which you
handle the prize giving that determines the number of prizes you will need. The type of prize given is up to the
individual but remember that children are just as happy to win a lollipop as something costing ten times as
much. It is the idea of winning a prize that appeals to the children, not what the prize is. For this reason cries of "I
haven't won anything yet" are invariably heard at parties but this is easily dealt with. Explain to the concerned
ones that everyone will have something to take home by the end of the party. This statement is true as they will
all be receiving a party bag. Remember it is the idea that they might be left out that worries the little dears most.
To this end do not give the prizes out as they are won. Show the "winnings" to the lucky person and say that it will
be put into their party bag to take home at the end of the party. Once again this simple action conceals a
number of advantages over the tradditional idea of giving out the prizes straight away. 1) If the prize is of the
edible variety it will not be immediately eaten (to the envy of the other guests), spoiling a little appetite for tea. 2)
If it is a toy or similar it will not be immediately played with, (once again to the envy of the others who will want
to try it out too) possibly leading to it being lost or broken before the end of the party. 3) At the end of the party, as
everyone will receive a party bag anyway, the ones with the extra prizes in will go largely unnoticed by any
children who didn't win. As the bags are given to each child as they leave, there is no opportunity to compare
booty. Each guest will be happy with their own bag of delights, regardless of the contents.
7) Balloons and decorations are an essential part of any children's party, right? Well to be honest it's a matter of
opinion. How often have you heard the assembled tots remarking upon the quality of the party decor? My own
feeling is that children, while undoubtedly being fascinated by colourful balloons, streamers, banners, etc, are
not in anyway disappointed at the lack of them. In fact it is adults who derive the most pleasure out of a well
festooned party room and adults who will provide the requisite "ooohs and aaahs" of appreciation for your efforts.
Once again as we attempt to hit the nail firmly on the head there will inevitably be a few sore thumbs (ouch!). If
you feel that it is ludicrous to suggest that decorations are not a necessity, then by all means go ahead and
create a party room par excellence. You may however agree that, apart from the financial outlay, the time and
effort involved in decorating the room could be far better utilised putting the final touches on more important
projects such as your games programme. A well organised party will always be a success, without even a single
balloon in evidence. I suspect that most people will go for the happy balance. A suitable number of balloons, i.e.
one for each child plus a few extras, (to allow for bursting) is a simple and effective way to add some colour to
the proceedings. It is not a good idea to have just a token few balloons as some of the children will undoubtedly
ask to take one home. This will lead to other children feeling left out when they realise that there are not enough
to go round (much wailing and nashing of teeth follows). The important thing here is what you do with the
balloons once you have blown them up. Always but always hang the balloons up. Do not be tempted to scatter
them around the room for that nonchalant but festive look. Still worse never issue each child with a balloon as
they arrive. Children are fascinated by balloons. Second only to their desire to plunder the contents of the
presents, children love to play with balloons. So much so that if the balloons are easily accessible you can forget
any notions of getting them interested in that game of "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" or "Musical Statues" which
you have painstakingly prepared for their delight. Instead the imaginative little cherubs will prefer their own
creations such as "Hit all and sundry as hard as you can with a balloon" or "How many times can you jump on a
balloon before it bursts". These and other such gems of childhood inspiration can quickly lead to disaster, not
only for the balloons but also for your chances of regaining control over the proceedings. Similarly it is no good
hanging balloons up where the children can reach them. Seeing if you can jump high enough to grab a balloon
rates high on the list of joyous pursuits for the average youngster. This frequently leads to the entire bunch being
dragged to the floor for the greater delight of the partygoers. The golden rule is, tie a separate piece of string
around each balloon (it is worth investing in a ball of twine for this as cotton gets easily tangled). Collect them all
up and use a further piece of string to tie all the strings together (I hope that makes sense). Using this same piece
of string hang the balloons up and don't forget to "hang 'em high" as they say in the movies. One large bunch
looks more impressive than several smaller ones and is also easier to retrieve for distribution at the end of the
party. If you do decide to go for streamers, banners, etc the same rules about hanging up apply. This way you
can ensure that your decorative skills will not have been in vain and you will have taken yet another step towards
gaining the undivided attention of your young audience.
8) Tea Time. Having received the little dears into your well prepared party, removed all the parents and treated
the expectant hoard to a games programme par excellence, things are looking pretty good. Indeed all that
remains now is to announce "Tea Time" and the exhausted throng will be only too pleased to gather at the table
for a well earned feast of delights. Being ravenously hungry and thirsty they are bound to sit for at least 30-45
minutes, doing justice to your lavish spread. After tea there should be just enough time for the organised present
opening and then "Yippee" it's home time. If all this sounds too good to be true, rest assured it is, or at least it was
until now. Tea time can be the making or breaking of any party. On arriving at a suitable point in the proceedings
(usually 45-50 minutes into the party) the first job is to transfer the angelic throng to the Tea Table. There are
several wrong ways of doing this, for example: "I think we should eat now". "Let's eat". "Who's going to be first at
the table"? "Come and get it". All of the above translate as one word in a child's mind: "CHARGE!!!" Even adding
phrases like "now don't all rush at once" or "no running" will have little effect as once again the children's minds
switch into override. Seeing who can be first at the tea table is another of those little unofficial games that
children love to play. The only way to prevent this and the potential injury to life, limb and carefully laid out food
display, is to change the rules of the game in your favour. On arriving at the end of the last event before tea, tell
the children that you are now going to look to see who can sit the best (arms folded, backs up straight, etc). Say
that the ones who are sitting the best will be able to go to the tea table first and proceed to choose them one at a
time. It's quite a good idea to start with the Birthday Child to make sure that they get their rightful place at the
table. One of your adult helpers should be waiting to ensure that the little sweethearts are seated properly and, if
you allow a suitable time lapse between the selection of each child, the miracle of an orderly sit down will
occur. Many people feel that this is also a good time to ask if anyone needs the toilet. In my experience it is
better to ask this after tea as the children will by then have had plenty to drink and are more likely to need the
loo. Of course any child caught short before or during tea will usually let you know soon enough. On the subject
of the smallest room, any teacher will tell you of the astounding effect of a child asking to "be excused". For
some peculiar reason one child's need to "go" immediately awakens the desire in any number of their
classmates. Of course the most likely reason for this is the opportunity to escape on their own for a while, rather
than any urgent need to answer natures call. This phenomenon applies equally well to Birthday Parties and it is
as well to be prepared. In the event of the cry to "leave the room" going up during your games session, call upon
a helper to usher the desperate party in the right direction. If this is done quickly and with a minimum of fuss you
may avoid the copycats altogether. As a general rule any simultaneous requests to follow suit should be met with
a firm "you can go when **** gets back". More often than not you will find that upon ****'s return the others will
have forgotten their need to go. Of course if you have two helpers and two loos you could let two go at the same
time but that is up to you. Asking if anyone needs the toilet after tea will of course result in many of the guests
wanting to go at the same time and here again you can utilise your helper/s to organise an orderly queue while
you stay with the other children. When everyone has returned you can carry on in the knowledge that there is
little likelihood of anyone feeling "the need" for the rest of the party.
9) The tea table. Depending on the space you have available you may of course have to plan the food
arrangements a little differently. While seating children round a table to eat is undoubtedly the most ideal way,
there are a number of alternatives: a) Standing round the table should be avoided if possible as the children will
tire of standing very quickly. As they are already on their feet the desire to leave the table and run around is also
very strong. This often leads to dropped food, spilt drinks etc and generally tea will be over quite quickly with little
justice done to your culinary efforts. b) A buffet style tea with the children collecting their food and drinks at the
table and going off to sit randomly around the room. From a mess point of view this is probably the worst idea of
all. Attempting to safely transport a plateful of food in one hand and a drink in the other to a suitable sitting down
point is difficult enough for adults. Children get into all sorts of problems with this ranging from depositing the
contents of their plate onto someone's head, to kicking over numerous cups of sticky, carpet staining juice as they
make their precarious journey across the room. Avoid this one at all costs and save yourself a lot of unnecessary
hassle. c) Probably the best alternative to sitting everyone round the table is to lay some large paper table-cloths
on the floor and sit them round those. You can then lay your food out properly, the children will be seated
comfortably on the floor (children have no problem with this), and teatime can be conducted in much the same
way as normal. Cups of drink are still more prone to being knocked over when they are on the floor so try using the
little boxes of juice that come with their own straw.
10) Party Blowers. The single biggest mistake that you can make at tea time is to give everyone a blower. True,
they look festive enough when they are lying there at the side of the plates. Indeed it is hard to imagine that such
an innocent device can be the cause of so much mayhem. The oddity is that while most people are aware of the
phenomenal noise that children can create with these things, blowers are still seen as part of the tea time
experience. Children, while only too happy to give their own rendition of a trumpet voluntary, should a blower be
present on the table, will not question the absence of them. Do not therefore feel obliged to have blowers, they
are not an essential part of the party table and will only make your job of keeping control much harder.
Remember once a child has a blower they will continue to blow it at every possible opportunity, for the rest of the
party. Now before I run into trouble with the party blower manufacturing industry, I would like to point out that I
am not ruling out the purchase of blowers altogether. By all means get blowers for the party but put them in the
party bags. This admittedly sneaky manoeuvre ensures that the loveable horde will still get the chance to show
off their musical talents, but it will be their own mummies and daddies who will share this delightful experience.
11) Party hats are a different kettle of fish. While they do not have the obvious drawbacks of the blowers, there are
still many reasons why they are not such a good idea. Firstly once again, believe it or not, children are very
indifferent about party hats. Parents on the other hand like to see their little dears dressed up and so they inflict
these weird and wonderful creations upon them. Many children do not like wearing party hats at all. This is
largely due to the elastic under the chin being somewhat uncomfortable and the extreme difficulty of trying to
keep the infernal thing perched on their head. From your point of view as the organiser the most common
complaint will be "my elastic's broken" and once again you will find yourself placed under unnecessary pressure,
trying to organise tea and run a repair shop at the same time. Of course not everyone gives hats out at tea time
preferring to do this at the start of the party. If anything this is a worse time to give them out than at the tea table.
At the start when you are trying to get their attention and begin your games programme you can well do without
the extra distraction of party hats. Additionally the timid ones will often become quite distressed when asked to
put a hat on, seeing this as some sort of indication that they actually want to be at the party. Once again (party
hat manufacturers take note) if you want the children to have party hats, give them to the homeward bound
sweethearts at the end. This way it is entirely up to them whether they put them on or not and you will not have to
worry about, "my elastic's broken".
12) Party Poppers and Crackers. Under strict supervision it cannot be denied that party poppers are both exciting
and pretty. They are however explosive devices and children, being blissfully unaware of the potential danger,
will often be seen pointing them directly into the faces of their friends. Some children are also averse to loud
bangs and will be quite upset by the noise, so use them at your own peril. Crackers would appear to be the least
perilous addition to the party table. They are however quite difficult for little hands to pull properly and your
assistance will often be required. Remember also that the contents of these devices are frequently paper hats,
small toys and jokes. The hats are not a particular problem as, having no elastic, the worse that can happen is
that they tear and become unwearable. The small plastic toys are similarly innocent (apart from any whistles)
although it would be wise to ensure that they are not accidentally swallowed along with the food. As far as the
printed jokes are concerned these tend to be largely ignored. However if you are blessed with one of the children
wishing to show off his or her reading skills by reciting the humorous? quip , you may be bombarded with requests
from the less talented ones for you to read their jokes out too. All of this seems fairly mild stuff but you will see
that once again by adding the crackers to the table you are making more work for yourself which detracts from the
all important job of keeping an eye on the dears while they tuck-in to your wonderful spread. Crackers once again
make very nice hand-outs at home time!
13) The Party Feast. Party Food Boxes are a good idea but can throw up unforseen problems. Basically all the
children receive exactly the same amount of eats in a compact and gaily decorated box which only needs the
addition of a carton of drink to complete the package. All the preparation is done prior to the party and on
conclusion of the revelry of the box, which also serves as a plate, can be swiftly cleared up with it's contents and
disposed of. Indeed if it is still serviceable, the box can be emptied and instantly recycled as a "going home bag"
substitute. Okay, so food boxes are an instant recipe for tea being over in ten to fifteen minutes. The amount of
food that they will hold is quite small and by the time you have popped in a bag of crisps and a chocolate biscuit
or two you will be wondering how the rest of your delicious creations are going to fit in. Often the solution to this
problem is to squash everything down resulting in looks of disdain on the faces of the children as they try to
separate sausages from cakes and cheese cubes from jam sandwiches. As the food is not really displayed at it's
best the children will often eat less of it and due to the lack of quantity it will not be long before you hear the
cries of "Can I get down now" or "I don't want anymore". Secondly as all the children are given the same food
there will inevitably be things in the box that some of them do not like. Kiddlywinks are often quite upset by this
as they feel, until reassured otherwise, that they are expected to eat everything they are given. Even if you
explain beforehand that they are not obliged to consume the entire contents of the box, it will not be long before
the first cry of "I don't like........" goes up, followed by similar announcements from all and sundry. Undoubtedly
there are some advantages to using boxes but if you are looking for that legendary 30-45 minute tea break then
they are not the way to go.
14) It is not a good idea to put all the food out at the same time. Instead a four stage approach is the best plan.
At the start only have savouries on the table. This avoids the problem of the little dears skipping straight to the
sweetmeats. Sausages, crisps etc are very popular but the same cannot be said of sandwiches so keep these to a
minimum or dispense with them altogether. It is also a good idea to avoid the use of cocktail sticks as the
children seem to have a fascination with them and often thrust large quantities of these sharp objects into their
pockets with obvious consequences. As a safer substitute for cocktail sticks try using thin plastic drinking straws cut
to size or better still allow the children to use their favourite eating method..............their fingers! Once a suitable
time has passed, and remember there is no need to rush here as everyone will want to stay at the table in
anticipation of the delights to follow, clear the decks and bring on the cakes, biscuits, etc. Once again allow
everyone plenty of time to partake before once again clearing away and introducing the jelly and ice cream.
Finally it's time to bring on the birthday cake with the usual enchanting choral refrain. Given the option, very few
children will want a piece of cake at this time, preferring instead to take it home in their bag or box. Once again
rather than asking who would like a piece, explain to the children that they can all have a small piece now to see
how delicious it is. This will have the double effect of extending tea time and saving you a lot of work wrapping
up individual portions for later.
15) The Birthday Cake. At the risk of more unpopularity with the manufacturers I am compelled to say beware the
re-lighting candles. Yes of course they can be great fun but I have personally seen children reduced to tears with
the frustration of not being able to blow them out. The other guests of course feel compelled to help and the
scenario of the soaking wet cake is almost always the result. Often the sodden cake has to be rescued from the
eager horde and rushed to the kitchen where the candles can be removed and safely extinguished. Keep a
special eye on how close the children get to the cake at this time as it is all too easy for hair to become singed in
the candle flames. Far better then to use regular candles which can be easily blown out to the usual applause
and cheers. Traditionally children are asked to congregate around the birthday cake for the singing of "Happy
Birthday To You" but if they are already seated at the table, ask them to remain where they are as they will get a
better view of the proceedings. This will help to alleviate the aforementioned danger of getting too close to the
candles. Following the cutting and eating of the cake, tea time is over and unless something is drastically wrong
your target of 30-45 minutes should have been easily achieved. Your table should be looking in pretty good
shape and because of the orderly way in which you have organised things, spills and other accidents should have
been kept to a minimum. In particular any incidents of food throwing should be stopped immediately before mass
imitation sets in and it becomes much harder to restore order.
| Childrens Party Ideas |
| Hope This Will Help You |
The JD Roadshow
Pure Party Power....
| Party Ideas |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |  |  |  |